If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Here comes the hammer - hang in there

We all know how the tone can turn after a loss, and a string of losses can really get things going. But let's all keep the schedule in mind and set our expectations appropriately for the next few weeks.

The last two 3 game trips are coming, the only West coast visit, and apart from the Texas 2 trip later this season this will basically mark the end of the road work for the Pacers.

You have the Lakers game and games at Chicago and Orlando. Even going back to Boston could be tough despite their poor play so far. Add in a visit from Orlando as the "break" and even a tricky Warriors game in the middle of that first trip and you've got the potential to lose 6 of the next 7.

4-5 losses looks very reasonable.

And now we add the lack of Foster to that list too. It's going to get ugly most likely, but this is the tradeoff the team must pay for the super sweet April they have lined up.

Let's just see the team get to the end of January above .500 and then start looking at how the schedule slowly turns and helps them build huge momentum down the stretch. FEB is better but still tough, MAR really starts to ease up.

A bad end to January doesn't mean the team isn't ECF capable or needs to make changes, it just means it's the toughest portion of the schedule for a team still trying to lock in on who they are and how they win.

When they lose home games to NJ or Utah, then we can talk about "fixing" the team.

And you never know, they just might surprise us and do better than expected.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

I hope we cover the next two at Sacramento and GSW. After that I expect some losses to mount as well.

You know how hippos are made out to be sweet and silly, like big cows, but are actually extremely dangerous and can kill you with stunning brutality? The Pacers are the NBA's hippos....Matt Moore CBS Sports....

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to RWB For This Useful Post:

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

We have 8 games remianing this month, lets say at worst we go 3-5 over that stretch, then we are 12-8. I see us going at least 4-4.
If you look beyond that Feb. isn't much easier. We just have to hope that everyone is starting to gel together and maybe this road trip will make them even tighter.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

I understand the premise of the thread, but 6-7 losses is unacceptable. If this was last season, I completely understand. But this season is about taking the next step, and that standard should be kept regardless of the situation.

It shouldn't be a THAT big of a deal if the Pacers rack up that many losses, but it should be a disappointment if they do.

4-4 should be base expectations. Anything less than that is a failure.

Sac, GSW, and NJ should all be wins. I don't think it's asking too much for the Pacers to get one more win out of Orlandox2, LAL, Chicago, Boston.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Since86 For This Useful Post:

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

It's kinda what I have grown to expect with this team over the years. Good stretches that make me believe they are a great team, then reality comes crashing in.

Last years first west coast trip was a turning point of the season and it all went downhill from there. It was not too bad to start with. There were wins over the Kings and Lakers, and they were at 9-7. Then it all started going horribly wrong. They won 7 out of the next 26 games after that.

That was the turning point for Roy's season from great and almost certainly the MIP to cringe worthy and hard to watch.

This team seems to be a lot different. Biggest key is the coach of course. And this team has a much tougher mentality... so we think.

The Following User Says Thank You to PaceBalls For This Useful Post:

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Frank wants them playing at least .500 ball on the road. He stresses this on every road trip. Over the last two seasons, we've surprised great teams on the road with a team that is not as good or deep as it is now. I expect that we will continue to beat some good teams but probably lose the majority of road games to great teams. The difference will be that we should beat the likes of GSW and NJ on the road without question if at or near full strength. This did not happen last year.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

I pray McBob doesn't have a monster game Sunday. Nothing personally against Josh but the board will go nuts.

You know how hippos are made out to be sweet and silly, like big cows, but are actually extremely dangerous and can kill you with stunning brutality? The Pacers are the NBA's hippos....Matt Moore CBS Sports....

The Following User Says Thank You to RWB For This Useful Post:

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

If the Pacers are really aiming to be a respectable team once again, winning road games and against the elite teams of the East and West should be their aim. Of course they should also take care of the sub .500 teams. The likes of Chicago, Orlando and Lakers are the ones that draw attention right now, so they should aim to win those games to gain some attention and respect from fans and the media.

While losing to some of the upcoming games from elite teams is acceptable, that expectation should not be their aim. Otherwise, they'll look to be playoff pretenders on the eyes of the NBA community just like last year as they look to have no chance at beating play-off caliber teams.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Fifty wins in a regular season is considered a very good NBA team. That's 61% If we win 40 games this year that will be 60 %. That by any standard would be a very successful year for a team that hasn't been abover .500 for a long time. Relax, enjoy the games, rejoyce in the wins, forget the losses. 4-5 seed in the playoffs would be great! 2nd round is a good possibility.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Im kinda tired of people telling others what kind of expectations they should have. If someone thinks we should win 50 games, who cares, its their expectations. If someone wants to start or bench someone, again who cares. Its not like Vogel is in here doing research. So many people get tight after anyone mentions EJ or throws another possible trade idea out. If you dont like what someone suggests, tell us why or dont post in the thread. I just see so many people chastising others for the dumbest reasons.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

We all know how the tone can turn after a loss, and a string of losses can really get things going. But let's all keep the schedule in mind and set our expectations appropriately for the next few weeks.

The last two 3 game trips are coming, the only West coast visit, and apart from the Texas 2 trip later this season this will basically mark the end of the road work for the Pacers.

You have the Lakers game and games at Chicago and Orlando. Even going back to Boston could be tough despite their poor play so far. Add in a visit from Orlando as the "break" and even a tricky Warriors game in the middle of that first trip and you've got the potential to lose 6 of the next 7.

4-5 losses looks very reasonable.

And now we add the lack of Foster to that list too. It's going to get ugly most likely, but this is the tradeoff the team must pay for the super sweet April they have lined up.

Let's just see the team get to the end of January above .500 and then start looking at how the schedule slowly turns and helps them build huge momentum down the stretch. FEB is better but still tough, MAR really starts to ease up.

A bad end to January doesn't mean the team isn't ECF capable or needs to make changes, it just means it's the toughest portion of the schedule for a team still trying to lock in on who they are and how they win.

When they lose home games to NJ or Utah, then we can talk about "fixing" the team.

And you never know, they just might surprise us and do better than expected.

Expecting to lose makes you a loser. You should expect to win every game. Thats why I hate hearing players who say if we go 500 on the road we had a good trip.

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

If the Pacers are really aiming to be a respectable team once again, winning road games and against the elite teams of the East and West should be their aim. Of course they should also take care of the sub .500 teams. The likes of Chicago, Orlando and Lakers are the ones that draw attention right now, so they should aim to win those games to gain some attention and respect from fans and the media.

While losing to some of the upcoming games from elite teams is acceptable, that expectation should not be their aim. Otherwise, they'll look to be playoff pretenders on the eyes of the NBA community just like last year as they look to have no chance at beating play-off caliber teams.